Locked pick counter



y 11, 1939- H. L. SPAUNBURG 2,165,733

LOCKED PICK COUNTER Filed Aug. 19, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HARVEY LSPAUNBe NVE 4 ATTOR EY m H m July 11, 1939. H. SPAUNBURG 2,155,733

LOCKED PICK COUNTER Filed Aug. 19, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5 FIG. 4-.

Patented July 11, 1939 PATENT OFFICE LOCKED PICK COUNTER Harvey LewisSpaunburg, Bristol, Conn., assignor' to Veeder-Root Incorporated, acorporation of Connecticut Application August 19, 1935, Serial No.36,858

9 Claims.

My invention relates to locked pick counters.

It has among its objects to provide an improved pick counter of thereset type adapted to be locked during operation and unlocked to permitresetting. A further object of my invention is to provide improvedmechanism associated with such a counter to prevent tampering with theresetting mechanism to fraudulently vary the count both while thecounter is locked and while it is unlocked, and such mechanism havingimproved means operative to prevent advance of the counter by a blow onthe resetting mechanism, either following resetting and before lookingor following locking of the counter. A still further object ofmyinvention is to provide a pick counter mechanism having a plurality ofcounters and a single lock for locking all the counters whileeliminating the necessity for a locking member extending across theresetting shafts of the counters and in general to simplify the lockingand resetting mechanism for counters of this type. Further objects of myinvention include the provision of improved means for preventing removalof the key following initiation of a resetting movement until thecounterwheels have been completely reset to zero position and the resettingmechanism is in a position in which the operative connections betweenthe driving elements of the resetting mechanism and the counter wheelsare disengaged. A still further object .of my invention is to provideimproved locked resetting mechanism for a multiple pick counter of thetype having a common locking means and in which the key for the lockcomprises the operating member for the resetting mechanism forbothcounters. These and other objects and advantages of my improvedconstruction will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustrationone embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved pick counter mechanism showingthe counter locked following resetting;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the counter mechanism before locking andwith a portion of the cover broken away;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view on line 4-4 of Fi 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on line 66 of 65. V

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 'll of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the position of certain of the resettingand locking parts im mediately following resetting of the counter wheelsto zero and prior to locking the counter;

Fig. 9 is a similar detail view showing the position of these parts justprior to withdrawing the Fig. 10 is a detail end view of the resettinshaft with which the lock is operatively associated, and

Fig. 11 is a detail showing the operative connection between the lockand the shaft of Fig. 10. In this illustrative construction, I haveshown my invention applied to a double pick counter mechanism of a wellknown type including a casing comprising a body I and removable cover 2and having two like counters therein, generally indicated at 3 and 4.These counters are mounted on parallel shafts 6 and 1, journaled in theends of the casing and are adapted to be driven selectively from acounter drive shaft 8 by usual clutch mechanism, not shown, dependingupon the position of connection of a usual manually adjustable controlmember 9, one counter, herein the counter 3, being connected for use onthe day shift and theother for use on the night shift. The counters 3and 4, which are adapted to be locked during counting operation byimproved locking mechanism including a lock l0 and a key H, herein ofthe usual Yale, or pin tumbler type, also have improved resettingmechanism, hereinafter described, controlled by said lock and key.

Referring to the counters 3 and 4, it will be noted that each of theseincludes a plurality of coaxial counter wheels operatively connected bytransfer mechanism and that the same are identical in construction. Moreparticularly, it will be noted that, using the counter 3 as anillustration, the same comprisesthree counter elements l2, I3 and I 4,each including a number wheel, operatively connected through usual tenstransfer mechanism of the locking type so as to register the rotation ofthe driving shaft 8 in terms of multiples of picks woven, with each uniton the wheel I! representing a predetermined number of picks, as, forexample, 1,000 picks, each unit on the wheel l3 representing tenthousand picks and each unit on the wheel I2 representing one hundredthousand picks. 7

Considering more particularly the construction of one of the counterelements l2, I3, and I4, it i I will also be understood that each ofthese is identi- 09.1 in construction so that reference to only'element02 appears necessary. Here it will be noted that this element, as shownin Figures 5, 6 and 7, includes a sleeve is on which the number wheel 05is fixed and which also has fixed thereto a locking disc ii and amutilated transfer gear it, the latter being on the opposite side of thelocking disc ll from the number wheel it. Also, as usual in such counterelements a reset pawl =39 in the disc H is normally pressed by a spring2t] downward through an aperture 2!! in the sleeve 05 into engagementwith the resetting shaft 6 ready to drop into a longitudinal groove 22in the shaft 6. Further, it will be noted that a driving gear 23 isrotatably mounted on the opposite end of the sleeve 65 from themutilated transfer gear it and, through a pair of spring pressed pawls26, carried on the inner face thereof, 'is adapted to cooperate in ausual way with a cup-shaped ratchet member 25 which is fixed within ausual recess in the face of the number wheel it adjacent the gear 23. Itwill be noted (Fig. 6) that the ratchet cup 25 has a series of tenequally spaced notches in its peripheral flange, corresponding to thenumeral positions of number wheel l6, and that the portions of saidflange between adjacent notches are formed into inwardly directed camfaces 250 which cooperate with the pawls 24 in a well known manner toadvance the number wheel it to the next numeral position as the pawlmoves over the peak of the cam 25a, irrespective of whether the numberwheel l6 has been moved completely through the 36 rotation correspondingto advance of one unit on thenumber wheel. Thus it will be evident that,with the several counter elements l2, l3 and H of counter 3 operativelyconnected by usual transfer pinions 26, the .counter will countprogressively in the usual manner and will be reset to zero uponrotation of the shaft 6 through a complete revolution, the pawls I!) ofthe several counter elements being picked up by the groove 22 andreturned to the zero positions illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, all in awell known manner.

In my copending application, which has issued as Patent- No. 2,040,031,I have shown and described in detail a pick counter of this general typehaving a locking mechanism common to the two counters in whichfraudulent advance of the count is prevented when the counter is locked,and reference is made to said application for a better understanding ofthe locked pick counter drt prior to the present invention. In my abovementioned application a double pick counter construction is shownpermitting either counter to be reset to zero following unlockingwithout disturbing the indicated count on the other counter. Theconstruction of the present application differs from this priorapplication in providing mechanism for resetting the two counterssimultaneously, and in providing a simple and inexpensive combinedlocking and resetting mechanism having many advantageous features of myearlier application for the prevention of fraudulent advance of thecountby a dishonest operator, even when such'an operator possesses a keyto the counter mechanism.

In the present construction means are provided to rotate the countershafts 6 and I in unison to reset their respective counters. To this endthe shafts 6 and I each have a sleeve'2'l fixed thereon by a pin 28 andcompletely occupying the space between the mutilated gear l8 of thehighest order counter element l 2 and the inwardly directed boss 29 onthe end wall of casing l. Each of said sleeves has a spur gear 30,preferably formed integral therewith, meshing with an intermediate idlearomas gear 3| rotatabiy mounted on the drive shaft 32 of the commonselective driving mechanism for the counters, and held in mesh with saidgears 30 by means of an integral hub33 engaging the end wall of thecasing and a collar 34 pinned to said shaft 32. Thus it will be evidentthat by rotating either shaft, as the shaft 7!, by means hereinafterdescribed, both shafts will be rotated in the same direction.

Mechanism is also provided for preventing reverse rotation' of theresetting shafts 6 and l in certain positions of the latter. Herein, asshown most clearly in Figures 3 and 4, the sleeves 21 are provided withgenerally cylindrical reduced end portions 35 adjacent the bosses 29 toreceive ratchet wheels 36, said reduced portions 35 being cut away toprovide fiat portions 31 thereon which cooperate with corresponding flatportions in the generally circular apertures in said ratchet wheels tolock the latter against rotation relative to said sleeves 21. Eachratchet wheel is provided with any suitable number of teeth 38, hereinfour, and a spring pressed pawl member 39 carried by the inside end faceof the casing I is adapted to cooperate with these teeth, riding overthe teeth and the untoothed portion of the periphery of the ratchetmember and dropping in back of each tooth as the ratchet wheel isrotated past the stationary pawl during resetting, the direction ofrotation during resetting being indicated by arrows in Figures 2 and 3.Thus, it will be evident that if the resetting shafts are rotated evenslightly in a resetting direction, each pawl 39 will drop in back of atooth in such manner as to prevent a return movement of the shaft andcompel the operator to continue the resetting movement in order to lockthe counter mechanism, as will now be explained.

Combined reset operating and locking mechanism, including the lock I0and key H, is asso ciated with the resetting shaft 1 for controlling thelocking and resetting of the counter mechanism. The look I, which hereinis of the well known pin tumbler type, is secured externally of Theplugillustrated in Figures 2 and 4, in which position the key slot 42 isvertically disposed. Pin

. tumblers 40c and drivers 40d are located in each hole and are urged bysprings Me in the bottom of the holes toward the key slot 42, the lengthof the pins being'such that one or more of the drivers "d normallyproject into the lock plug 43 and thus prevent rotation of the latter.When the right key is inserted in the key slot 42, how-i ever, the pintumblers are depressed by the key until the abutting ends of the pintumblers and drivers in the several holes coincide with the periphery ofthe bore in the lock barrel, as shown in Figure 4, permitting rotationof the lock plug 40 in the barrel. Also, as appears from this figure,the key cannot be withdrawn, once'the lock plug 40 has been rotated tomlsalign the tumblers and the portions of the holes in the lock barrel,until the lock plug has been returned to its normal locking position,shown in Figures 2 and 4, in which the key slot is vertical. The keyslot 42 is provided I at its inner end with an enlarged portion 42(Figure 11) which is beyond the portion of the key slot occupied by thekey. This enlarged portionof the slot is adapted to receive the tongue43 formed on the left-hand end of the shaft I as viewed in Figure 2.

Here attention is again directed to the fact that the key slot 42 in thelock plug is vertically disposed in the locking position of the parts(Figure 9) in which the key can be withdrawn from the lock, and that inthe position of the resetting mechanism immediately following aresetting movement of the number wheels ii to zero (Figure 8), the key Hhas been advanced beyond the position in which it can be withdrawn. Inother words, the slot 22 in shaft 1 is located at an angle to thevertical tongue 43, andhence to the key slot 42. It will also be evidentthat, when the key plug 40 is rotated by turning the key, the shaft .1will be rotated and, by reason of the interconnecting gear train, theshaft 6 will also be rotated in the same direction, as indicated by thearrows in Figure 2. Also, as stated above, the lock plug 40 can not berotated except when the key is inserted therein; and further when theplug has been released and turned by the key through even a small partof a revolution beyond the Figure 8 position, the key can not be removeduntil the plug has been turned to its initial locking position. Thus, itwill be evident that when the key H is removed from the lock ID, thecounter mechanism is not only locked but, since the key. constitutes theresetting member for rotating the shafts 6 and 1, tampering with theresetting mechanism is made diflicult.

In the use of my improved construction, it will be understood that thecounter mechanism is supposed to be locked during the operation of theloom and that the supervisor at the end of the day or the week, afterrecordingthe readings of the day and night counters, is able to unlockthe counter mechanism and .reset the same by means of the key II. Itwill be understood that in the normal locking position of the mechanismshown in Figures 2 and 9, the key slot 42 is vertically disposed and theresetting grooves 22 of shafts Ii and I are disposed approximately 12degrees back of the vertical position in which they engage the resettingpawls l9 of a counter wheel which is in the zero position. Thus, it willbe evident thatwhen the supervisor inserts the key in the 'verticallydisposed slot 42, unlocking the counter mechanism, the first 12 degreesof rotation in the .direction of the arrows shown in Figure 2 merelymoves the resetting shaft I, and with it, of course, the shaft 6, fromthe position shown in Figure 9 to that shown in Figure 8 in which thegrooves 22 are vertically disposed and engage immediately the pawls I!of any counter wheels which may be in the zero position. From thisvertical position of the re-setting grooves, a complete 360 degreerotation of the re-setting shafts 3 and 1 by the key II will pick up thereset pawls IQ of all the counter wheels of both counters and return thesame to the zero position of Figures 2 and 8 in a well known manner.Here, it will be noted, however, that the key ll, following such aresetting operation, has moved beyond its normal vertical position ofFigure 9 and consequently can not be withdrawn, the operator insteadbeing required to reversely rotate the resetting mechanism throughapproximately 12 degrees into the vertical position of the key, duringwhich reverse movement of the resetting shafts the grooves 22 are movedaway from the reset pawls l9 into the position shown most clearly inFigure'5 in which the pawls rest on the circular periphery of theshafts.

If the supervisor fails to turn the key ll beyond the vertical positionof Figure 9 in resetting the counters to zero, and withdraws his keywithout rotating the resetting shafts 6 and I through the last 12degrees of a resetting movement, the counter wheels will neverthelessautomatically complete the resetting movement underthe action of thepawls 24 acting on cams 25a, so that all the counter wheels will readzero. It will be evident that in any case the displacement of theresetting grooves 22 and the resetting pawls l9 will take place,.eitherby the reverse rotation of Further, should an operator wrongfully obtainI a key or be trusted with a key and attempt to fraudulently advance alegitimately registered count, when he has unlocked the counter androtated the key to advance the counter resetting shafts 6 and I, even tothe extent of one tooth 38 of ratchets 36, the spring pressed pawls 39will drop behind the ratchet teeth and will prevent a ny backwardmovement of the resetting key. Since the operator can not withdraw thekey without turning it back to its normal vertical position, in order toavoid detection, ughich would follow if he were found with his counterunlocked, the operator will be obliged to complete the resettingmovement after such a partial movement, thus wiping out the legitimatecount. Thus, the average operator is so penalized by his attempt toadvance the count that he will not again attempt to cheat.

It will further be noted that my improved combination of lock andratchet mechanism is effective in preventing fraudulent operation of theresetting shafts at the beginning of the shift by .an operator having akey and using it for' fraudulent purposes. Thus, for example, anoperator using the above described locked counter but without theratchet and pawl structure 36, 39, and finding the counter at zero whenhe comes to work can advance the countfraudulently at the beginning ofhis shift. One way in which he could do this would be to unlock thecounter mechanism and rotate the key to reset the counters to say 999,then leaving the key in thelock weave 2,000 picks until the countershows 001; then turn the key ll backward until he picks up the 1 counterwheel and, reversing the rotation of the key, turn it forward until hereaches the normal reset position of the resetting key in the lock whilehe wove 223,000 picks, which would, of course, subject him to whollyunreasonable risk of detection.

Attention is also directed to the fact that my improved mechanism isalso proof against a fraudulent advance of the count by tapping on anypart of the resetting mechanism as, for example, the slotted end of thelock plug 40, i. e. by holding an implement against one end of the slot42 and striking the implement a sharp blow with any suitable object whenthe counter is locked and the counter wheels are in zero position, insuch manner as to advance one or more of the counter wheels. Forexample, by striking the lock plug in this manner with the countingwheels in zero position, it is possible to advance one or more of thecounter wheels to read 1 or 2 when, as in the usual construction, thereset pawls i9 are left in contact with the vertical walls of theresetting grooves 22. This type of fraudulent manipulation and damage tothe counter mechanism resulting therefrom is prevented in myconstruction by the angular relation between the tongue 43 of shaft 1and the resetting groove 22 of the resetting shafts (Figure 10) whichrequires that the grooves 22 and the pawls l9 occupy the relativepositions shown in Figure 5 before the counter mechanism can be locked.In this spaced position of the grooves 22 and reset pawls IE, it will beevident that it is impossible to transmit movement to the counter wheelsby a blow on any part of the resetting mechanism. Here it will beobserved that the relation of the teeth 38 to the pawls 39 is such at topermit this 12 degrees backward rotation of the resetting shafts fromthe zero position of the number wheels. Y

The pawls 39 in addition to preventing reverse rotation of the resettingshafts also cooperate effectively with the resetting mechanism toprevent an operator having a key from advancing the counter wheels by aneccentric blow on the key. ll while the pawls i9 are still in grooves 22immediately following a resetting operation and before reverselyrotating the shafts by the key and locking the counter mechanism. Suchoperation is prevented by the frictional restraint imposed by thesespring pressed pawls 39 which makes it impossible to strike the key H asufficiently hard blow to advance the counter wheels without rotatingthe unlocked lock plug 40 and with it the resetting shafts 6 and I,which requires another resetting operation before the kev can bewithdrawn.

Thus, it will be evident that the no-reverse pawls and ratchetscooperate with the locking and resetting mechanism to prevent withdrawalof the keys to lock the counters with 'a counter wheel of either counteradvanced beyond zero in any of the previously described ways. Further,the no-reverse ratchets andlpawls 36, 39 also cooperate with theblow-proof structure as previously described, to prevent advance of theresetting mechanism by a blow following resetting and prior to locking,while the blow-proof structure also cooperates with the resettingmechanism and locking mechanism to prevent such advance followinglooking; all as distinguished from a counter mechanism without eitherthe no-reverse device or the blow-proof feature, wherein the resettingmechanism could be struck either a sufflclently light blow when unlockedto advance the count, or a sufllciently severe blow when locked also toadvance the count.

Attention is further directed-to the fact that my improved constructionis of a character adapted to be applied to standard types of pickcounters, the structure being readily disposed in the end of the casingopposite the selective clutch mechanism. It will further be evident thatthe structure is simple and of a rugged character and that the resettingmechanisms of two or more counters can be controlled by a single lockwhile providing all the above mentioned safeguards as regards fraudulentadvance of' the count even by an operator having a key to the countermechanism in his possession. These and other objects and advantages ofmy improved construction will,

' however, be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While I have in this application specifically described one embodimentwhich my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that.the same is shown for purposes of illustration operatively connectedwith said shaft and a key A also constituting a reset opreatiiig memberwith.-

drawable in only one position of said shaft, and means for automaticallyadvancing said wheels relative to said shaft following a'resettingmovement of said shaft in to a position permitting withdrawal of saidkey, but less than a complete resetting movement.

2. In a pick counter mechanism, a counter ineluding a plurality "ofoperatively connected number wheels, resetting mechanism for saidcounter including an axial rotatable element and cooperating pawlelements within said wheels engageable to return the latter to zero uponoperation of said rotatable element,a key operated lock controlling therotation of said resetting mechanism having a key .adapted to be removedonly upon completion of resetting,,and means' for effecting a relativemovement between said rotatable element and pawl to disengage the sameat the completion of resetting and independently of a correspondingmovement of said key. I

3. In a counter, a denominational order counter unit having a drivingmember, a driven member including a number wheel, clutch mechanismbetween said members including a ratchet carried by one member and aspring pressed pawl carried by the other member, said ratchet havingspaced notches corresponding to the numeral positions on said numberwheeland having in the spaces between the notches raised cam portionsenacting with said pawl to'ca'use the number wheel to rotate in adirection to permit the pawl to enter the nearest notch.

4. In a counter, a denominational order counter unit having a drivingmember, a driven member including a number wheel and a resetting pawl,and clutch mechanism between said members including a ratchet carried byone member and a spring pressed pawl carried by the other member forefiecting step by step movement of said wheels from one numeral positionto the next, an axial' resettingshaft having a portion en'ga'geabl'e'with the resetting pawl to reset the same to zero upon a completerotation of said shaft, said ratchet having spaced notches correspondingto the numeral positions on its Wheel and having in the spaces betweensaid notches raised cam portions coacting with said pawl to cause saidnumber wheel to rotate through an incompleted part of any wheel movementfrom one number to the next irrespective of the completion of acorresponding movement of said shaft.

5. The combination with a counter having operatively connected counterelements, of resetting mechanism therefor adapted to be locked duringcounting and unlocked for resetting, said mechanism includingcooperating engageable re-' setting elements and a reset operatingmember, and mechanism for preventing fraudulent advancement of saidresetting mechanismoperative while said resetting mechanism is unlockedincluding means automatically operative following resetting rotation ofsaid reset operating member for automatically disengaging said resettingelements.

6. The combination with a counter having operatively connected counterelements, of resetting mechanism therefor adapted to be locked duringcounting and unlocked forresetting, said mechanism including cooperatingengageable resetting elements and a reset operating member rotatable inone direction to reset said counter elements, and mechanism forpreventing fraudulent advancement of said resetting mechanism while saidresetting mechanism is unlocked in: cluding means automaticallyoperative followin resetting rotation of said reset operating member forautomatically disengaging said resetting elements, said means comprisingcooperating members one of which is rotatable with said resettingmechanism, and means for automatically angularly relating said membersfollowing rota- I tion of said operating member..

7. The combination with a counter having operatively connected counterelements, of a combined resetting and reset locking mechanism having acommon reset operating and locking member and a cooperating memberreceiving the latter, and means governed by the operation of said firstmentioned member for disconnecting the resetting connection to saidcounter elements and inhibiting advancement of any counter element by ablow on said receiving member when said mechanism is locked.

8. The combination with a counter having a resetting shaft and aplurality of operatively connected counter wheels separately rotatableon said shaft and having operative connections with said shaft duringresetting, of reset locking means comprising a lock having a rotatablekey receiving member operatively connected with said shaft and a keyalso constituting a reset operating member withdrawable in only oneposition of said shaft, and means for efiecting relative movementbetween said shaft and said counter wheel to break said operativeconnections as said key is moved into the position in which it iswithdrawable at the end of the resetting operation.

9. The combination with a counter having operatively connected counterelements, of com bined resetting and reset locking mechanism having acommon reset. operating and locking member and a cooperating memberreceiving the latter, means for inhibiting advancement of any counterelement by a blow on said mechanism when said mechanism is locked, andmeans inhibiting removal of said operating member to lock the counterfollowinga blow on said mechanism capable of advancing any counterelement when said mechanism is unlocked until said operating member hasbeen moved through a complete resetting operation.

HARVEY LEWIS SPAUNBURG.

